The Highest Paid US Airline Pilots Ranks & Their Average 2026 Salaries

The highest-paid pilots in the United States are senior Captains. Generally, the most highly paid of these Captains fly widebody aircraft with the Big Three airlines: Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and American Airlines although other airlines offer competitive salaries. These Captains can earn more than $400,000 later in their career with numerous benefits, like a guaranteed minimum hours of pay and even generous retention bonuses.